Housing and Accommodations | May 13, 2025 

Hello Jumbos!

We know that housing assignments and roommates are top of mind leading up to your move-in day. This week's email includes information about the Housing Survey that we use to match roommates, the housing assignment timeline and process, and how to apply for housing accommodations, as explained by Kirsten Behling and Jessica ("Jess") White of the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center in this week's featured video.

If you have a documented disability and need housing accommodations, apply now!

Students with a documented disability (e.g., physical, mental, chronic, sensory, and/or mobility) who may need housing accommodations must submit their diagnostic documentation to the StAAR Center and have met with an Accessibility Specialist (online or in-person) by Friday, June 20 to be considered for an accommodation. After the June 20 deadline, we are unable to guarantee housing accommodations for the fall semester.

As Jess and Kirsten explain in the video, there are three steps students must complete to secure housing accommodations:

If you have any questions, email staarcenter@tufts.edu or call 617-627-4539.

Note: The StAAR Center process is only required for students requesting disability-related housing accommodations. The Residential Life Housing Survey is required for all students, including those who submit the StAAR Center forms for a housing accommodation. (More information about the Housing Survey for all students follows below). 

Of course, all students are required to refrain from drinking alcohol while underage and using other substances, per the Student Code of Conduct, and these policies apply in all campus housing. Substance-free housing is a community of people who make an intentional effort to be substance-free on top of what the university policy requires. Substance-free housing might be a great fit for you if you:

You will have the opportunity to learn more about substance-free housing during the housing webinar and can express interest in substance-free housing when you complete your Housing Survey.

Students are matched with their roommate(s) based on their responses to Residential Life and Learning's Housing Survey. It's important for you to complete the survey and answer the 10 to 15 lifestyle questions fully and accurately so that we can match you with a compatible roommate or roommates. Through the survey, you will provide information regarding your typical bedtime, how tidy you keep your room, and other personal preferences. 

The Housing Survey is now open and must be completed by June 20. You can access the survey through the housing portal within the Student Information System (SIS). The survey responses are all processed after June 20, which is to say there is no impact on your ultimate housing assignment based on when you complete the survey during this window as long as it is completed by June 20.

Residential Life doesn't accept roommate requests. Meeting and living with people who have traveled a different life journey to arrive at Tufts than you have—whose life experiences enable them to share different perspectives than yours—is key to the Tufts residential life experience.

While new roommates could become your lifelong friends, your initial encounters with people you have not met previously will help you develop such skills as compromise, advocacy, negotiation, and even conflict resolution.

Residential Life has a very good rate of success for matching roommates using the Housing Survey process. However, conflict is normal and expected when you are sharing space with other people.

Healthy communication is critical from the very start. We have developed a Roommate Agreement to help you and your roommates navigate living and learning together. If concerns arise, reviewing the agreement with your Resident Assistant (RA) is a good place to start to resolve them and move forward.

As an incoming student, you will likely be assigned to either a double or triple room. There are very limited single rooms for incoming students unless you have been approved to receive an accommodation. You will receive your housing assignment and Tufts email address  for your roommate(s) by Thursday, July 31.

This summer, as you start to plan what to bring to campus, Residential Life recommends coordinating with your roommate(s) to make the most of your residence hall space and avoid duplicating items such as a minifridge or television. For other tips about what to pack and what to leave at home, visit the Orientation Tips and Resources page.

Thursday, May 22, 7 p.m. ET – Members of the StAAR Center team and the Residential Life team will review everything you need to know about on-campus housing and accommodations. Register and submit any questions in advance.

Tuesday, June 3, 7 p.m. ET – New Student Checklist 101 (For students only; parents and families have been invited to attend a webinar just for them on June 4.) Meet the Orientation team and review the New Student Checklist. Register and submit any questions in advance.

Save the date and register for the Welcome to your Academic Experience webinar with your degree program's Advising Dean and Senior Academic Advisors:

Orientation communications, including webinars, are archived on the Orientation web page.

Ahead of your arrival, each week, you will be receiving important reminders, key updates, and introductions to staff and resources. We will send all official University communications to your @tufts.edu email address starting on June 10, so if you haven’t already, please set up your Tufts email account now and check it often. Also, do not forward your Tufts email to any other account (Gmail, etc.) because forwarding can prevent your emails from being delivered.

Please contact Student Services at 617-627-2000 or StudentServices@tufts.edu.

Note: The Student Services team is managing degree certifications ahead of Tufts’ Commencement 2025 this weekend so there may be a delayed response. Rest assured, your housing and accommodations questions will be answered during the Housing and Accommodations webinar on May 22; please register and submit your questions in advance.